Mel Brooks’ BD collection an update of 2006 box set

There are several good things about the new BD box set of Mel Brooks’ comedies. First of all is the BD transfer. While “Young Frankenstein,” “Spaceballs,” and “Blazing Saddles” are already out on BD, this set marks the only place you can get “The Twelve Chairs,” “Silent Movie,” “High Anxiety,” “History of the World – Part I,” “To Be or Not To Be,” and “Robin Hood: Men In Tights” in the format. And in comparison to the 2006 box set, this one does include “Spaceballs.” There’s also a nice (if not exactly inspiring) 120-page book which puffs up each film.

That said, there’s much to dislike about the box set as well: It’s the only place (so far) that you can get the above mentioned films on BD. And while the clarity of BD helps bring out details that I didn’t realize were there (more on that later), it remains debatable whether these films needed to be released in the BD format. And the box set suffers from the same issue that plagues most box sets; it’s bulky and problematic to store on shelves built for DVD/BD boxes. Plus the box that I received for review is falling apart.

“The Twelve Chairs” is the story of a former Russian aristocrat (Ron Moody) who is now a clerk under the new Soviet regime. He learns that his dying mother-in-law sewed the family fortune into one of 12 dining room chairs, all of which have been scattered across the country. He is pursued by opportunist Frank Langella, priest Dom DeLuise and former servant Mel Brooks. Extras: None. Nada. Zip. Not even a commentary. Just trailers for other Fox Mel Brooks films, and they’re all in this set, so why bother?

“Blazing Saddles” is perhaps the best of Brooks’ comedies. It set the standard for all parodies all the way back in 1974, and still reigns supreme today. Its progeny are the “Airplane!” and “Scary Movie” spoofs. Cleavon Little is a black railroad worker about to be hung for whacking white overseer Mr. Tate (Slim Pickens) over the head with a shovel. Robber baron Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) rescues him for his own purposes; to install him as the sheriff of the town of Rock Ridge, which has just become valuable land due to the railroad going through it. Gene Wilder stars as the Waco Kid, an alcoholic gunslinger who teams up with Bart. Madeline Kahn is delicious in her Oscar-nominated role as the Teutonic crooner, Lili von Shtupp. This film was rated #6 on the American Film Institute list of Top 100 Comedies, and is surprisingly the only Warner Bros. film on the list. Extras: additional scenes, commentary, two featurettes, and the pilot episode of the “Black Bart” spinoff (with Lou Gossett, Jr. in the Little role).

“Young Frankenstein” is an extremely close second for best Brooks comedy. Gene Wilder is the grandson of the (in)famous Victor von Frankenstein and is summoned to Transylvania to take possession of the castle. At first skeptical of his late grandfather’s work, he finds himself compelled to continue it, assisted by the hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and the comely Inga (Teri Garr). I reviewed this one in more detail last year. Extras: commentary, four featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, trivia track, isolated score track.

“Silent Movie” has Brooks playing has-been director Mel Funn, trying to make a silent picture as a modern conglomerate tries to take over the studio. Aided by his witless sidekicks (Dom DeLuise and Marty Feldman), he manages to sign some big names to the picture: Paul Newman, Liza Minelli, Burt Reynolds, Anne Bancroft and James Caan. The film remains true to its title; the only person with a speaking role is famed mime Marcel Marceau, who utters one word (“Non”). Extras: featurette, trivia track.

“High Anxiety” is Brooks’ tribute to the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Brooks is Dr. Robert Thorndyke, new director for the Psycho-Neurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous. He combats evil forces in the institution along with his own acrophobia. Extras: two featurettes, trivia track, isolated score track.

“History of the World, Part I” has Brooks playing several roles: a caveman, Moses, a “standup philosopher/BS artist” in ancient Rome, the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada, King Louis XVI and a lowly “piss boy.” Overtly broad comedy has some hilarious moments, making it worth watching. The Brooks stable of stars continues, with Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Sid Caesar and Gregory Hines. Extras: two featurettes, trivia track, isolated score track.

“To Be Or Not To Be” is a remake of Ernst Lubitsch’s comedy, with Brooks starring as the lead actor for a Polish troupe that has to contend with the Nazi invasion of Poland. Brooks’ real wife, the late Anne Bancroft, is his adulterous wife in the film. Charles Durning had an Oscar-nominated role as the SS colonel standing in their way of escape. Extras: two featurettes, artist profiles trivia track, isolated score track.

“Spaceballs” is Brooks’ take on the juggernaut that was (the first three) “Star Wars” films, with little nudges in the direction of “Star Trek,” “Alien” and other science fiction franchises. I reviewed this one in greater detail earlier this year. Extras: commentary, documentary, interview with Brooks, tribute to John Candy, still galleries, storyboards-to-film comparison, outtakes.

“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” is Brooks’ lampooning of the legendary character. Cary Elwes plays the title role, with Brooks as Rabbi Tuckman. Sorry; couldn’t bring myself to watch this one again; I hated it when I first saw it in 1993. I do remember the best line; Elwes stating that “at least I have an English accent,” a sly poke at the American Kevin Costner’s flawed attempt in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” Extras: two featurettes, commentary, isolated score track.

Curiously absent from this set are the 1968 version of “The Producers” and the 1991 film “Life Stinks,” which is surprising because both are MGM films, and Fox has the distribution rights to those; and the 2005 film version of the Broadway edition of “The Producers.” Also missing is the 1995 spoof “Dracula: Dead and Loving It.” The latter two I can understand, as “Producers” is a Universal release, and “Dracula” is Castle Rock. But if they could convert “Robin Hood…”

The BD transfer brings out some details that I had never been able to observe on video before. I blush to say this, but in “History of the World,” I always thought that Mademoiselle Rimbaud’s (Pamela Stephenson) bodice was translucent at the top, giving just a rosy hint of nipples. However, I was disillusioned to find that it was simply a standard white silk bodice with two rosy spots over the breasts. Ah, the dashing of youthful indulgences.

Bottom line: Even with the release of six films not available elsewhere on BD, this is a bit pricey for all but the serious collector. And the slipcase packaging is slipshod. The book has its interesting facts, but glosses over any negative criticism of the films. For the average fan, I’d say get the three already out on BD separately, then wait for the solo releases of the ones you want from the set.